The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-07
\ NOBLE GIRLS LOVE.

In the year 1SG-John Harlow
started for San Francisco, Gala, on
a tour Of recreation from II long
course of legal study. Nothing of
special no g occurred to relieve the
tcdiousness of his journey he arriy-
ed at his destination much shattered
and fatigucd. Immediate rest was
needed, so he sought boarding
house in Il dull, quiet part Of the
city, and for some days enjoyed the
seclusion and rest he stood so much
in need of. His meals were brought
to his room, and therefore he had no
opportunity to make the acquaint-
ance of his fellow boarders. The
house was run by a matronly look
ing waman named Wentworth,
whose only weakness seemed to be
her voluble tongue. However, she
attoncd somewhat for this in the ex-
cellent quality Of her menu, and, as
this is the paramount object sought
for in Il boarding house, whatever
foibles Sine possessed in the eyes of
her tenants were graciously over
looked
Her daughter, comfy young girl
of : years, assisted her in the house
hold duties and at evening usually
entertained the house with pleasing
music on the piano, One evening
as Harlow was enjoying a fragrant
Havana in his room, and musing
retrospcctively over old scenes and
faces, the soft, plaintivc strains Of a
delicate but musical voice seemed
to emanatc from the parlor below
There was something in the tone of
the voice that told him he had never
heard it there before. The air spoke
volumes of sadness and breathed
such pathos and distress thai he
turned involuntarily in his chair,
and noticing in the mirror at the
other side of the room what Il change
it had wrought in his features, he
jumped up suddenly and was about
to shut out the voice from his hear
ing, when it suddenly stopped. The
music had piqued his curiosity.
He would know the owner of that
pathetic voice.
The chatting Of two women below
told him that some lady friend of
Bertha-Mrs. Wcntworth's daughter
was probably paying her a friend
~ visit. lie dressed himself hastily
and repaired to the parlor, where,
under the pretext Of wishing to be
called early in the morning, he had
an opportunity of speaking to Ber-
tha. She seemed pleased to be of
service to him and invited him in.
The Rubicon passed, he was soon
engaged in delectablc conversation
with Cora Lane, to whom he had
been introduced by Bertha.
OF all fair faces he had ever seen
hers was the lairest. There was an
air Of melancholy sullusing the en-
tire features that seemed in keeping
with the sad, blue eyes, the express
ion of which completely charmed
him. Something indefnable in her
sweet, gentle manner felt its way
deeply into his breast and caused it
to beat with rapture. He could
have sat for hours and contemplated
her lovely face, so great was his in
fatuation.
That night as he lay ON his couch,
with the picture of one fair face en-
crossing his every thought he felt he
knew that Cora Lane was the only
woman he would ever love. 1t was
late next morning when he arose,
despite the fact that Bertha had done
his bidding.
His first impulse was to rush to
her and learn all she knew of Cora,
but better judgment prevailed. He
concluded to ascertain through quiet
inquiries all he could about his new
found love. Bertha, however antici-
pated him. She saw, with a woman's
quitkncss, the profound look Of adj
miration ON his visage as he sat gaz-
ing at her friend the night previous,
and intuitivcly surmised that he
wished to know something of her
friend, told him of her own accord
all that she knew.
Cora was employed as saloswom-
dn in Il millincr establishment. She
was 20 ycars old, was supposed to
be an orphan, and came originally
from the east
This was all Bertha knew of her,
although she dwelt cloquently on
her amiable manners and goodness
Of heart.
Every night for two weeks Har-
low saw his love safely home, but
not as an escort. ecould not nerve
himself to meet tlnsn rrrnt llun n,.,s